The Berlin Process final

The Berlin Processin a Nutshell

Published by theDeutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

Registered officesBonn and Eschborn, Germany

Open Regional Fund for SEE – Promotion of EU Integration Zmaja od Bosne 7-7a 71000 Sarajevo, BiH Phone +387 33 957 500 Fax +387 33 957 500 [email protected] www.giz.de As at

09/2018

Printed by

Design

www.studiodeset.com

Sarajevo

Photo credits

London segment, photo by Be Henry on Unsplash

Berlin segment, photo by Bundgaard Camilla on Unsplash

Paris segment, photo by Delanoix Anthony on Unsplash

Vienna segment, photo by Diwald Gabriele on Unsplash

Trieste segment, photo by Husond on Wikimedia Commons

Text

Ana Marjanović Rudan

GIZ is responsible for the content of this publication.

On behalf of theGerman Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

What is the Berlin Process?

The Berlin process is a platform for high-level cooperation between the

leaders of the Western Balkan countries (WB6) and the Berlin Process host

countries, also including the region’s civil society, youth, and businesses. It

began in 2014 as a 4-year platform, but it will continue beyond 2018.

Why was it initiated?

At the time when the European Union (EU) was facing multiple challenges

and its enlargement was put on hold, the Berlin Process was launched to

maintain the stability of the Western Balkans (WB), support the ongoing

reforms, and to move the cooperation among the regional countries

forward.

The Goals

The 2014 Declaration of the German Chair set out to make concrete

progress in:

1. Resolution of outstanding bilateral and internal issues

2. Achieving reconciliation within and between the societies in the region

3. Enhancing regional economic cooperation

4. Laying the foundations for sustainable growth.

The Berlin Process and the EU’s policy towards the WB

The Berlin Process is not a part of the Stabilisation and Accession Process

(SAP) but supplements it by focusing on the region as a whole.

The participants

- The Berlin Process host countries: EU member states’ governments –

Germany, Austria, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Slovenia, Croatia

and Poland – with perspective of other EU members joining in the future

- The WB6: Governments, civil society and businesses

- The EU institutions – The European Commission (EC), European External

Action Service (EEAS), and the member state holding the Presidency of

the Council

- International financial institutions – European Bank for Reconstruction

and Development (EBRD), European Investment Bank (EIB), and other

investment institutions grouped in the Western Balkans Investment

Framework (WBIF) and the Connectivity Europe Facility (CEF)

- Regional initiatives – Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), South East

European Transport Observatory (SEETO), Energy Community (EnC),

Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA), Regional Anti-

Corruption Initiative (RAI).

How does it work?

The Process has a flexible structure, with no central coordination

mechanism. The EU member states host the yearly summits, set the

agendas and follow up on the last year’s summit. The process proceeds

through a series of meetings:

- Yearly meetings of the WB6 and the Berlin Process host countries

at the governmental level, with high-level representatives of the EU

and member states, international financial institutions and regional

organisations involved in the Process – the Western Balkans Summits

- Yearly meetings of the region’s civil society, youth, and businesses –

adjacent to the Summits

- Preparatory and follow-up meetings at governmental level (Prime

Ministers, ministers, government representatives)

- Preparatory meetings of the civil society, youth and businesses

The results

The Process has thus far yielded results in 3 areas of regional cooperation

– economic, political, and social.

Most projects, programmes and initiatives within the Berlin Process

have been designed to enhance regional economic cooperation: the

“connectivity agenda”, the initiatives in support of cooperation and growth

of the Western Balkan businesses and to joint projects of the regional

scientists.

Regional economic cooperation – the “connectivity agenda”

Compared with the EU average, the WB has low railway and motorway densities, low capacities for power generation and scarce broadband internet connections. This “infrastructure gap” negatively affects the region’s prospects for growth, mutual linking and integration in the European Economic Area.

To overcome the gap, the Berlin Process has been putting forward the “connectivity agenda” – the projects, programmes, and initiatives to link the Western Balkans to Trans European Transport Network (TEN-T), implement the electricity Projects of Energy Community Interest (PECI) and contribute to creating conditions for sustainable growth.

In the area of transport, the 24 “connectivity” projects include construction and rehabilitation of roads, railways, tunnels, viaducts, ports, and cross-border crossings and will extend the three core network corridors of the TEN-T (Mediterranean, East/Med and Rhine/Danube) to the WB. In the area of energy, the 5 projects include the construction of 450 km of electricity network and over 100 km of gas infrastructure, contributing to energy security, while the 2 energy efficiency and renewables programmes – the Regional Energy Efficiency Programme (REEP) and Green for Growth Fund (GGF) – will provide investments fostering the region’s sustainable growth.

Since the EU investments in connectivity should take place in an optimal policy framework for construction and operation, the funding decisions are linked to the progress on reforms related to energy, transport and sustainability in line with the acquis. These “soft connectivity measures” are meant to open the transport market and establish reliable rail systems, develop the regional energy market and contribute to sustainability of the energy sector.

The investment projects are proposed for funding by potential country beneficiaries to the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), in line with regional and national strategies. Funding decisions are based on maturity and regional impact of investment projects, but the key criterion for selection is the progress in legal and regulatory reforms.

The digital aspect of connectivity has recently been touched upon, as the Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans was launched in 2018. It aims to increase cybersecurity, trust and the digitalisation of industry in the Western Balkans, deploy eGovernment, eProcurement, and eHealth tools, help increase digital skills among citizens and boost research and innovation. 30 million euros were pledged for broadband infrastructure by the WB EDIF (Western Balkan

Enterprise Development and Innovation Facility).

Regional economic cooperation – support to cooperation and development of businesses

Chamber Investment Forum (CIF)

The Chamber Investment Forum was established at the Vienna summit,

in 2015, by the Chambers of Commerce of WB6, Croatia, and Slovenia.

Representing 350,000 companies from the Balkans, the CIF aims to ensure

their involvement in implementation of connectivity infrastructure projects

and advocate for the improvement of business environments in the region.

Regional Economic Area (REA)

The idea of the REA is to create a space where goods, services, investments,

and skilled workers will move freely. The initiative will extend the market

available to potential investors in the WB, by enabling access to almost

20 million consumers, and make investing in the WB more attractive by

offering opportunities to create value chains across borders, while taking

advantage of trade relations with the EU. The Regional Cooperation

Council (RCC) prepared a multi-annual Action Plan (MAP) for the REA,

which was endorsed in Trieste in 2017. The plan covers trade, investment,

mobility, and digital economy. National Coordinators for the MAP were

appointed. The actions introduced in the MAP REA are expected to be

implemented until 2020, with some extensions until 2023.

Transport community (TC)

With the Treaty concluded between the EU and the WB6, the TC was

established in 2017, in the field of road, rail, inland waterway and maritime

transport as well as regarding the development of the transport network

between the EU and the WB countries. The TC should provide support

to the realisation of common infrastructure projects and progressively

integrate the transport market of the WB6 into the EU transport market

on the basis of the relevant acquis in the areas of technical standards,

interoperability, safety, security, traffic management, social policy, public

procurement, and environment – for all modes of transport (excluding air

transport).

Support to SMEs through Western Balkan Enterprise Development and

Innovation Facility (WB EDIF)

In order to boost entrepreneurial capacity and provide new financing

opportunities to the companies in the region, in 2017 the EC has committed

to providing 48 million euros through the WB EDIF.

Regional economic cooperation – support to scientific cooperation

Western Balkans Research Foundation (WBRF)

At the 2017 summit in Trieste, the participants decided to start the

process of establishing the WBRF. The Foundation will be a self-governing

international institution implementing mobility programmes and providing

financial support to teams of junior scientists from the WB.

Regional political cooperation

Young Civil Servants Pilot Scheme (YCSPS)

The YCSPS is an executive programme agreed upon in 2016, designed

to develop the professional capacities of public administrators and

policy makers in the WB6. Through this programme they will acquire a

global perspective on public administration and jointly participate in a

programme tailor-made for the WB. The scheme involves participation in

the Regional Exchange Programme.

Declaration on Bilateral Issues

The Declaration on Bilateral Issues was adopted by the WB6 Foreign Affairs

ministers in Vienna in 2015. The signatories committed to resolution of all

open questions in the spirit of good neighbourliness and commitment to

European integration. The declaration is an obligation for the signatories

to resolve their bilateral disputes in a manner which will not block or

encourage others to block their neighbours’ EU integration process. As the

first encouraging steps in that endeavour, two border agreements were

signed on the margins of the Vienna summit.

Joint Declaration on Regional Cooperation and Good Neighbourly

Relations, Joint Declaration on Missing Persons, and Joint Declaration

on War Crimes

The Joint Declaration reiterates the commitments made regarding the

resolution of outstanding bilateral issues in 2015, commending the

initiative for biannual stocktaking, and pointing to the contribution that

the civil society can make in improving regional cooperation. It stresses

the need to resolve the cases of the missing persons in post-Yugoslav

conflicts without politicisation and welcomes the pledge of the WB6 to

investigations. In relation to war crimes, it emphasises the need to end

impunity and overcome the legacy of the past and indicates the crucial

importance of the independence of judiciary, but also of recognition

of verdicts, of the need to reject hate speech and glorification of war

criminals, to strengthen the prosecutors’ office and courts and their

regional cooperation, as well as the cooperation with the International

Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (MICT).

Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse

and trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons and their ammunition

in the Western Balkans by 2024

The Roadmap is an elaborate action plan, a guiding and consensual

document developed and owned by the WB6 authorities and embedded in

the Berlin Process, which complements existing European Union activity

to counter those threats. It builds on a vision of a safer, more secure region,

where comprehensive and sustainable mechanisms, fully harmonized

with the European Union and other international standards are in place

to identify, prevent, prosecute, and control the illegal possession, misuse

and trafficking of firearms, ammunition and explosives. The Roadmap is

also a practical progress measuring tool, with defined, goals, targets and

performance indicators.

in the Field of Information-Exchange for Law EnforcementJoint Declaration: Principles of Cooperation

The WB6 governments agreed to share strategic assessments and

operational and tactical intelligence on serious and organised crime and

terrorism. The principles of cooperation were established: the exchanges

will be in line with national legal requirements, including in relation to

personal data protection and classified information security, timely,

proactively, using secured channels, with as many details as possible and

in an efficient and effective manner.

The Berlin Process Security Commitments Steering Group

As a part of the London Summit in 2018, the governments of the Western

Balkans, committed to strengthening connectivity and cooperation within

the region in the fields of serious and organised crime, terrorism and other

security threats, established the Steering Group to identify priorities,

monitor and assess the delivery of these commitments, address obstacles

and identify future security threats and areas for cooperation.

Anti-corruption country commitments

In the framework of the London Summit, the governments of the WB6

(with the exception of Serbia) made individual country stipulations,

committing to step up their anti-corruption efforts, namely in the areas

of exposing corruption, of prosecuting the corrupt and of driving out the

culture of corruption..

Regional social cooperation

Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO)

RYCO is a regionally-owned and financed organisation, based in Tirana. It

was modelled after Franco-German Youth Office and is the first major step

taken in the course of the Berlin Process towards accelerating reconciliation

among the post-conflict societies of the post-Yugoslav space. Its mission

includes providing support to youth exchanges in the region, stepping up

regional youth cooperation, cooperating with institutions working with

youth, implementing joint projects as well as coordinating cooperation

among youth in the WB. RYCO was established in 2016.

Western Balkans Fund (WBF)

The WBF is a regionally-owned and financed organisation modelled after

the Višegrad Fund, established in 2015. By financing projects, which must

include participants from at least three WB6 countries, the WBF boosts

cooperation between the societies of the WB6, strengthens relations and

regional cohesion, and advances integration into the EU.

ECONOMIC COOPERATION

POLITICAL COOPERATION

Overview: 3 areas of cooperation forwarded via the Berlin Process

The “connectivity agenda”

24 transport connectivity investment projects

2 technical assistance projects (transport)

5 energy connectivity investment projects

2 sustainability programmes (efficiency, renewables)

Broadband infrastructure investment (digital)

Soft measures – energy

Soft measures – transport

Soft measures – sustainability

Transport Community

Regional Economic Area

Chamber Investment Forum

SMEs support via WB EDIF

WB Research Foundation

Young civil servants pilot scheme

Declaration on bilateral issues

Declaration on Regional Cooperation and Good Neighbourly Relations

Declaration on Missing Persons

Declaration on War Crimes

Roadmap for a solution to SALW and their ammunition

Security commitments steering group

Anti-corruption country commitments

SOCIAL COOPERATION

Regional Youth Cooperation Office

Western Balkans Fund

The course of the Process

Aside from the annual Summits, the Process goes on through the meetings

following up to the past summits’ commitments, and through the meetings

held in order to prepare for the next summit. The topics of the Berlin

Process are also tackled in gatherings not directly linked to the Process,

which is why the review of its course also takes these events into account.

August 28: The Western Balkans Summit in Berlin

Participants:

Topics:

WB6: Heads of States and Governments, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Economy

EU: EC President and Vice-President, DG NEAR Commissioner

Austria, Croatia, Germany, Slovenia: Prime Ministers, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Economy

France: Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs

Regional cooperation

Transport community

Independence of judiciary, fight against corruption

Vocational education

Meetings in the run up to the Berlin Summit / Highlights

Feb 11, London

Jul 15, Dubrovnik

Western Balkans Investment Forum

Brdo-Brijuni Process meeting

WB6 and Croatia Prime Ministers

EBRD

WB6 Head of States and Governments

Presidents of Croatia and Slovenia

German Chancellor

Promotion of the WB6 as an investment destination

The summit in Berlin announced

The Council of the EU invited to organise WB-EU Summit

EU strategy of transport and

infrastructure should include the WB

2014

Commitments:

Yearly Summits will provide a framework for a period of four years to achieve “additional, real” progress in economic cooperation, sustainable growth, reconciliation, bilateral issues

Germany will foster media freedom in the WB

The WB6 will work intensively on developing the Energy Community

Follow up to the Berlin Summit and preparations for the Vienna Summit / Highlights

Oct 23, Belgrade

Informal meeting in Belgrade

WB6 Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Economy/Finance

DG NEAR Commissioner

The EC will allocate 1 billion euros through IPA funds for transport

and energy

2014

Follow up to the Berlin Summit and preparations for the Vienna Summit / Highlights

Feb 24, Tirana

Mar 20, Vienna

Mar 25, Pristina

Apr 21, Brussels

South East Cooperation Process meeting

Conference “Tackling Jihadism Together – Shaping, Preventing, Reacting”

Conference “Improved Connectivity and a Strong Core Network”

Summit “Building Networks, Connecting People”

Ministers of Foreign Affairs of SEECP members

Latvian EU Presidency

RCC

Austria, Croatia, Italy, Slovenia, WB6 Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Interior

EC, OSCE, RCC, Europol

WB6 Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Infrastructure


WB6 Prime Ministers


DG MOVE Commissioner

RCC

RCC invited to prepare a regional cooperation platform to fight terrorism

Ministers will enhance cooperation

in fighting extremism and international terrorism

Draft Core Network Agreement announced

Technical standards must be met

by 2030 to have the Core Network

completed

CCore transport network agreed upon

National Investment Committees

must establish Single Project Pipeline of priority investments

2015

Apr 23, Brdo pri Kranju

May 6, Brussels

May 25-26, Belgrade

Jun 12, Sarajevo


Regional cooperation day in Brussels

CSO preparatory meeting for the Vienna Summit

Regional BIRN conference

Italy, France, Slovenia and

WB6 Ministers of Foreign Affairs

State Secretary of Federal

Foreign Office of Germany




RCC

Regional civil society

organisations and think tanks

Regional media

professionals and experts

Programmes of the Positive

Agenda for Youth to be made more effective

Furthering regional cooperation was deemed priority

Recommendations for the Vienna

Summit prepared (regional cooperation, creation of jobs and

prosperity, freedom of expression)

Recommendations for the Vienna

Summit prepared (regional

cooperation, creation of jobs and prosperity, freedom of expression)

2015

Jun12, Sarajevo

Jun 22, Riga

Jul 8, Vienna

Jul 15-17, Haale and Berlin

Regional BIRN conference

TEN-T Days 2015

Conference “Connecting Systems, connecting Markets”

Joint Science Conference

Regional media professionals and experts

WB6 Ministers of Transport


Energy Security Community

WB6 Ministers of Energy


Director of Energy Security

Community

National Academies and

Rector’ Conferences of WB6, Austria, Germany,

Italy and Slovenia

Recommendations for the Vienna Summit prepared (legal protection of journalists, state

influence, rules on ownership and

financing of outlets, hate speech)

The Core network, the Corridors and the mandate of the Corridor

coordinators to be extended into the WB

Shortlist of investment projects agreed upon, energy soft measures to be completed, regional power

market initiative to be launched,

NICs to be established

3% of GDP for higher education

and science should be allocated, research foundation should be

established

2015

August 27: The Western Balkans Summit in Vienna

Participants:

Topics:

Commitments:


EU: EC President and Vice-President, DG NEAR Commissioner, HR of the EU Foreign Policy and Security Affairs

Austria, Croatia, Germany, Slovenia: Prime Ministers, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Economy

France: Secretary of State for European Affairs, Special Envoyof Minister

of Foreign Affairs

Italy: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Director General of the Ministry of Economy

International financial institutions

Bilateral issues

Migration and fight against terrorism

Economic prosperity

Connectivity agenda

Youth

Education and science

Declaration on Regional Cooperation and Solution of Bilateral Disputes signed

Declaration on Establishment of RYCO signed

Annual Economic Reform Programmes (ERPs) will be prepared

6 transport and 4 energy infrastructure investment projects agreed upon

The list of “soft measures” to be implemented before the Paris Summit was agreed upon

Establishment of a regional energy market agreed upon

1 billion euros for connectivity projects will be made available from IPA II

Obstacles to the Transport Community Treaty to be overcome

2015

August 27: The Civil Society Forum in Vienna

August 27: The Business Forum in Vienna

Highlight:

Highlight:

Recommendations on enhancing regional cooperation, media freedom, job creation and solution of bilateral issues presented

Agreement on establishment of the Chamber Investment Forum signed

Follow up to the Vienna Summit and preparations for the Paris Summit / Highlights

Sep 18, Split

Oct 8, Luxembourg

Conference “WISE”

Conference “Eastern Mediterranean –Western Balkans route”

WB6 Ministers of Education

and Science

Minister of Education of Croatia

WB6, EU member states, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan Ministers of

Justice and Home Affairs

“WB Research and Innovation

Centre” (WISE) was established

Migrants must be returned to countries of origin

WB6 assistance commended

Key joint actions agreed upon

2015

Oct 21, Budva

Nov 12-13, Prague

Dec 7-8, Sarajevo

Oct 25, Brussels

Inauguration meeting of the CIF

Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the V4 and the WB6

EU-WB Forum on Justice and Home Affairs

Meeting on the WB Migration Route

Members of the Chamber

Investment Forum

Ministers of Foreign Affairs of WB6 and V4

representatives of the EC, of Croatia, Slovenia, UK

RCC Secretary General

Ministers for Justice and Home

Affairs of WB6 and the EU member states

DG HOME Commissioner

Heads of States/ Governments:

Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, FYROM, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Romania,

Serbia, Slovenia; President of

the EC; Reps of the Luxembourg Presidency of EU Council, of the future Dutch Presidency, UNHCR,

Frontex, European Asylum

Support Office

Working groups were established and rules of procedure adopted

The Agreement on Establishment of the Western Balkans Fund signed

EU-Western Balkans counter-

terrorism initiative adopted

17-point action plan agreed upon

2015

Follow up to the Vienna Summit and preparations for the Paris Summit / Highlights

Feb 22, London

Feb 25-26, Zagreb

Mar 1, Brussels

Western Balkans Investment Summit

Chamber Investment Forum Meeting

Meeting of WB6 Ministers of Energy and Transport

Croatia and WB6 Prime Ministers, Ministers of Economy, Energy and/or Transport, UK Minister for Trade and Investment

EBRD; WB business representatives

Presidents of Chambers from SEE and of the EU member states; EU representatives;

WB6 Ministers of Transport and Energy


Development of transport links, renewable energy and the

privatisation agenda elaborated upon

EBRD-backed SEE Link launched

The Regional Platform for Strengthening SMEs established

The WB6 will work towards establishing a regional market for

electricity

The NICs will keep Single Project

Pipelines (SPPs) of priority investments up to date and

credible

2016

Mar 30-31, Durres

Apr 25-26, Vienna

Apr 27, Vienna

May 12-13, Belgrade and Novi Sad

Meeting of WB6 Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Durres

Conference “WB: Energizing Enlargement by Solving Bilateral Disputes”

Meeting in EnC Secretariat

Civil Society Forum

WB6 and Czech Ministers of

Foreign Affairs

Secretary of State of France

Italian Undersecretary for

Foreign Affairs

DG NEAR Commissioner,


Representatives of WB6, Austria, Croatia, Germany, France, Italy and Slovenia, of the EU

institutions, RCC, think-tanks

WB6 Ministries of Energy

WB6 Transmission system

operators and national regulatory authorities



he EU will fund connectivity

investment projects where soft measures have been addressed

The WB6 proposed a cooperation

agenda as regards to the refugee

crisis and demanded the conclusion of the visa liberalisation process for

all the WB citizens

The EC will organise a youth forum, launch a pilot scheme for young civil servants and prepare a regional

hydropower master plan

The ways of resolving bilateral issues were deliberated

MoU of the WB6 on Regional

Electricity Market Development

signed

Recommendations for the

Paris Summit prepared (youth

cooperation, migration crisis, environment and bilateral disputes)

2016

May 18, Vienna

May 24, Paris

May 25, Brussels

May 22-24, Vienna

Building a WB Alliance for Work-Based Learning Conference


Economic and Financial Dialogue between the EU, the WB, and Turkey


Representatives of companies from Austria, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Slovenia and

WB6; of the EC and IFIs

Italy, France, Slovenia and WB6

Ministers of Foreign Affairs; German Minister of State for

Europe; State Secretary of France


EEAS Secretary General

Representatives of WB6, EU

member states, Turkey, EC; of

European Central Bank and central banks of WB6 and Turkey

National Academies and Rector’

Conferences of WB6, Austria,

Germany, Italy and Slovenia; RCC

The principles of cooperation in order to support vocational education and training were agreed

upon

Cooperation needs to be stepped

up in the area of migrations

The WB6 representatives presented

their Economic Reform Plans

(ERPs) for 2016

Recommendations for the WB6

governments agreed upon

(involvement of scientists in policy-making, application of international quality criteria, support to mobility

measures, etc.)

2016

May 26, Ljubljana

Conference “Strengthening Econ. Governance in SEE”

WB6 Ministers of Economy

Representatives of the EC and IMF

Reform priorities identified under

Economic Reform Programmes discussed

July 4: The Western Balkans Summit in Paris

Participants:

Topics:

Commitments:


EU: EC President and V.-President, DG NEAR Commissioner, HR of the EU Foreign Policy and Security Affairs

Austria, Croatia, Germany, France, Italy, Slovenia: Prime Ministers, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Economy


Rule of law and anti-corruption

Youth

Environment

Migration and fighting terrorism

Connectivity agenda

3 new railway projects agreed upon, and the programme for energy efficiency received additional funding

Soft measures to be implemented

A roadmap for setting up of a regional market for electricity agreed upon

Proposals for increasing the access for the region’s youth to the Erasmus agreed upon

Western Balkan Sustainable Charter agreed upon

Agreement on the Establishment of the RYCO signed

Young Civil Servants Pilot Scheme launched

2016

July 4: The Civil Society Forum in Paris

July 4: The Business Forum in Paris

July 4: The Youth conference in Paris

Highlights

Highlights

Highlights

Recommendations on climate change and green growth, youth cooperation, bilateral

disputes, migration and democratic governance presented

WB6 chambers to promote cooperation and increase competitiveness

Recommendations on education and mobility, employment and entrepreneurship,

youth engagement and participation, and youth and the media presented

2016

Follow up to the Paris Summit and preparations for the Trieste Summit /

Sep 26-28, Ljubljana

Nov 24-26, Skopje

Nov 29, Warsaw

Europe-Western Balkans Youth Meeting

Civil Society Forum

Annual Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the V4 and WB6

WB6 and EU members

states youth leaders

Representatives of institutions of 15 Erasmus+

countries

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia



Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the WB6 and V4

High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Reps. of Bulgaria, Croatia,

Romania, Slovenia and Italy

Progress on implementation of

the recommendations of the Paris

Youth Conference discussed

State of democracy and rule of law

discussed

V4 supported the WB6 EU integration and their effort in the fight against corruption and in

managing the migrations

2016

Dec 6–12, Brussels

Dec 16, Brdo

Annual Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the V4 and WB6

EU-WB Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs

WB6 Ministers of Transport;

DG NEAR and DG MOVE Commissioners

Representatives of SEETO, RCC and IFIs

WB6, Slovenia and Slovakia

Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs

Representatives of the EU, civil society, regional

cooperation bodies

Agreement regarding the text of

the Transport Community Treaty reached

The WB6 will be partners in the

operational actions related to the fight against firearms trafficking

2016

Follow up to the Paris Summit and preparations for the Trieste Summit / Highlights

Feb 9, Skopje

WB6 Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Energy

WB6 Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Energy;

Italian Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs


Representatives of IFIs


50 million euro to support energy efficiency and renewable energy were allocated

Transport Community Treaty will

be signed

Roadmap on Regional Market on Electricity and Sustainability

Charter to be implemented

2017

March 16, Sarajevo

Apr 26-28, Tirana

WB6 Prime Ministers meeting

Civil Society Forum

WB6 Prime Ministers

Representatives of Italy, the EC and the EEAS

Regional civil society organisations and think

tanks

Further progress is needed to improve border crossing

procedures and infrastructure facilities

Proposal to further economic

cooperation in the WB6 announced for the Trieste Summit

Recommendations for the Trieste Summit formulated (youth

cooperation, rule of law / anti-corruption, business environment,

bilateral issues)

July 12: The Western Balkans Summit in Trieste

Participants:

Topics:

Commitments:


EU: EC President and V.-President, DG NEAR and DG MOVE Commissioners, HR of the EU Foreign Policy and Security Affairs

Austria, Croatia, Germany, France, Italy, Slovenia and the United Kingdom: Prime Ministers, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Economy


Connectivity agenda

Transport Community

Rule of law and fight against corruption

Regional economic integration

SMEs development

Education and science

Treaty Establishing Transport Community signed

Multi-annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area adopted

Joint Declaration Against Corruption agreed upon

7 additional connectivity investment projects agreed upon

Jun 14-16, Paris


National Academies and Rector’ Conferences and Universities of WB6, Austria,

Germany, Italy and Slovenia; representatives of France,

Italy and the EC; RCC; regional and EU scientists and experts

Recommendations for the Trieste summit agreed upon (to establish the WB Research Foundation and

to develop a WB Action Plan for Smart Growth)

2017

July 11-12: The Civil Society Forum in Trieste

July 12: The Business Forum in Trieste

July 12: The Youth Conference in Trieste

Highlights

Highlights

Highlights

Recommendations on regional cooperation and bilateral relations, rule of law / anti-

corruption, youth cooperation, business climate, environment, and more efficient communications of the Berlin Process were presented

The Secretariat of the CIF inaugurated

The work of RYCO, the Young Civil Servants Scheme, Erasmus+ programme discussed

A grant for co-financing and the balance loans from the EIB and the EBRD provided

Connectivity Europe Facility (CEF) mobilized for the first time

IT Summit to be held

48 million euro will be provided for SMEs through WB EDIF

Western Balkans Research Foundation to be established

2017

Follow up to the Trieste Summit and preparations for the London Summit / Highlights

August 26, Durres

Sep 20, New York

Oct 26, Sofia

WB6 Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Energy Informal meeting of WB6 Prime Ministers

Meeting of the WB Ministers of Foreign Affairs in New York

EU – Western Balkans Justice and Home Affairs ministerial forum in Sofia






Ministers for Justice and Home Affairs of WB6, Estonia, Bulgaria and Austria

DG HOME and DG JUST Commissioners

115-point plan - a road map

to deepen regional economic cooperation agreed upon

MAP for the REA was discussed

Ensuring effective border management and fighting migrant smuggling are top priorities

It is necessary to strengthen

operational partnership to efficiently and effectively

address counter-terrorism and radicalisation, and transnational organised crime

2017

Oct 31, Brussels

Dec 18, Brussels

Meeting of MAP coordinators for the REA

Meeting of the Berlin Process Sherpas

WB6 MAP coordinators,

Representatives of the EU

institutions, RCC, CEFTA and CIF, the World Bank and the EBRD

WB6 governments’ representatives

Representatives of the DG NEAR


Full implementation of the Action

plan and the formation of the regional economic area would begin in 2023

RCC to work on mutual recognition

of professional and academic

qualifications, on single roaming space, on regional investment reform agenda; and to co-organise

the Digital Summit

Monitoring reports on MAP for the REA and Connectivity agenda

implementation plans presented

The WB6 presented plans for the coming months for implementation of the Connectivity agenda, for

MAP for the REA and for the related reforms

2017

Follow up to the Trieste Summit and preparations for the London Summit / Highlights

Jan 24 – 26, Kolasin

Feb 16-18, Skopje

Feb 26, London

Regional Meeting on Security

Digital Summit Preparatory Meeting and Exchange on REA Structures

WB Investment Summit

Representatives of WB6 Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Ministries of Interior/

Security and Ministries of Finance

UK Summit team, Home

Office

EU Delegation to

Montenegro, RCC, MARRI

GIZ ORF EU Integration

Representatives of WB6

Ministries of Foreign Affairs and institutions in charge of digital agenda

GIZ ORF EUI Integration

Prime ministers of the WB6

and Bulgaria

Representatives of the EC, EBRD and other IFIs, RCC

and CIF

Coordination among the WB6 Ministries of Interior and with other relevant structures involved

in strengthening security in the Western Balkans region, in the

field of combating transnational organized crime, money laundering and terrorism

Exchange of views regarding the

inclusion of the topic of the WB

region security in the London Summit agenda

The meeting kickstarted

cooperation of the representatives from institutions in charge of digital agenda and produced a

platform for exchange of ideas

Establishment of the REA is

understood to be the key element

of the “soft connectivity”

2018

Mar 16, Sarajevo

Mar 16, Sarajevo

Mar 19-20, Sarajevo

Meeting (informal) of the WB6 Ministers of Foreign Affairs

Conference of the WB6 Ministers of Foreign Affairs

Preparatory meeting for the London Summit

WB6 Ministers of Foreign

Affairs

UK Minister for Europe, UK Summit coordinator

DG NEAR Director General

Representative of the Bulgarian Presidency

RCC and GIZ ORF EU Integration


Representatives of WB6 Ministries of Foreign Affairs


Progress on the Trieste

commitments was assessed

Rule of law, bilateral issues and reconciliation were emphasized as critical to the region’s EU

integration, in light of the

upcoming London Summit

The list of projects selected for funding by the Western Balkans Fund was approved

Information exchange on progress regarding Transport Community

and REA

The EU Strategy for the WB, priorities and program of the

EU – WB Summit in Sofia, and expectations and deliverables of

the WB Summit in London were discussed

2018

Apr 18-19, Skopje

Apr 26, Vienna

Apr 27, Skopje

Western Balkans Digital Summit



Prime ministers of the WB6

Ministers of the WB6

Representative of the German Federal Ministry for Economic

Affairs and Energy

DG NEAR and DG CONNECT Commissioners

RCC and EIB

UK Summit coordinator and his team

Civil Society Forum of the WB


WB6 Head of States

Presidents of Croatia and Slovenia

Prime Minister of Bulgaria

European Council President

The Digital Agenda Flagship

initiative was welcomed

Readiness expressed to set up a regional framework for recognition of certificates of electronic

signature and facilitation of cross-border trusted services

The importance of extending the

scope of the Regional Roaming Agreement and of establishing cooperation with the European

Union Network and Information

Security Agency (ENISA) was

The Civil Society Forum policy

briefs, prepared in accordance with

the topics of the London Summit, were presented to the UK Summit

team and discussed

Responsibility of the WB6 to

strengthen the rule of law, fundamental human rights,

efficient judiciary, good governance, the fight against corruption and organized crime

was underlined

The importance of refraining from polarising populist and nationalist

rhetoric or activity that may increase tension in bilateral and

regional relations was stressed

2018

May 28-29, Tirana

May 30 – Jun 1, Rome

Jun 14, Brussels

Jun 25-26, Sofia



Joint Working Group on Recognition of Ac. Qualifications

Digital Assembly

Representatives of WB6 Prime Ministers, Ministers of Foreign

Affairs, Interior Ministers

UK Summit team

Ambassadors of Germany and

the UK


National Academies and Rectors’

Conferences of WB6 and

member-states participating in the Process

Representatives of the Ministries

of Education of the WB6

Representative of the subject WB6 ministries

DG CONNECT Commissioner


Update on preparations for the London Summit and working

sessions on the expected outcomes of the Summit

Recommendations prepared

for the London Summit on

smart growth, convergence and cohesion, and cooperation

Agreements on principles and

steps towards mutual recognition of academic qualifications

The Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans was launched

Under the WBIF, €30 million in EU grants will be made

available to deploy broadband

infrastructure in the region

2018

Jun 26, Brussels

Jun 29 – Jul 1, Novi Sad

Jul 4, Vienna

Jul 2 – Jul 4, Berlin

Ministerial meeting of the WB platforms on Education and Training & Research and Innovation

Regional Youth Forum

Economy Ministers meeting

Regional conference “New Dynamics of TVET in the WB”

WB6 Ministers of Education

and Science

Representatives of the EC, RCC,

OECD, RYCO, ETF and WBAA,

WB6 youth representatives

Prime Minister of Serbia

RYCO Secretary General

Mayors of Novi Sad and Tirana


WB6 Economy and Finance

Ministers

Representatives of Berlin Process governments, EC, the IFIs, regional and international

organisations

WB6 Education/Labour

Ministers and other relevant participants from the WB

German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and

Development

A set of key principles on

automatic recognition of academic qualifications in the

Western Balkans was endorsed

Models of future regional cooperation based on reconciliation and mutual

understanding were discussed

Participants welcomed progress

towards setup of the WBRF, in implementation of MAP REA, the new guarantee instrument by the

EC, under WBIF

Addressing skill gaps in the

context of digitalisation within the Berlin Process was discussed

The necessary adjustments of the

regional technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in the light of globalisation and

digitalisation were discussed

A joint Communiqué was prepared

2018

July 9-10: The Western Balkans Summit in London

Participants:

Topics:

Commitments:

WB6: Prime Ministers, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Interior (and Security) and Economy

Prime Ministers of Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Poland, Slovenia

and the United Kingdom and representatives of the French President and the Italian Prime Minister

Ministers (and/or representatives) of Foreign Affairs, Interior (and Security)

and Economy of Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Greece, France, Italy, Poland, Slovenia and the United Kingdom

EU: HR of the EU Foreign Policy and Security Affairs, DG NEAR Commissioner and other representatives of EU institutions


Security issues

Regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations,

missing persons and war crimes

Fight against corruption

Digitalisation – youth education

Principles of regional cooperation in information-exchange for law enforcement

agreed upon (Declaration)

Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons and their ammunition in the WB by 2024 agreed

upon

Declarations on regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations, on missing

persons, and on war crimes were signed and stocktaking of progress in resolution of bilateral issues agreed upon

Anti-corruption country commitments were made

The Berlin Process Security Commitments Steering Group was set up

Funds were pledged for digitalisation of schools and for strengthening of democracy in the WB

2018

July 9: The Civil Society and Youth Forum in London

Highlights

The participants discussed youth issues and the future of the Berlin Process

The Civil Society Forum of the Western Balkans presented recommendations for

the continuation of the Berlin Process to the Forum and at the Meeting of the Berlin Process Foreign Ministers – increased focus on the rule of law, migrations

and green topics, structured monitoring of implementation of commitments and increased regional ownership

2018

The achievements and the future of the Berlin Process

The Berlin Process annual summits and the numerous meetings held

related to them intensified the interaction between the EU and the WB

high-level politicians and succeeded in retaining the focus of the EU on

the WB.

Through conditioning the infrastructure investments with implementation

of the “soft measures”, the Process encouraged the countries to rev up

the legal and regulatory reforms in line with the acquis. In this sense,

it contributed to their rapprochement to the EU and maintained the

transformative influence of the Union in the region.

The Berlin Process has also galvanized regional cooperation in resolving

the problems of regional relevance – such as the infrastructure gap,

region-wide youth unemployment, low competitiveness of economies and

distant prospects of economic convergence with the EU, slow progress

in institutional and social reconciliation, alongside a number of lingering

bilateral issues, and, as of lately, security issues – by using a regional

approach.

Finally, the Process succeeded in inspiring the WB6 leaders to cooperate

and initiate new forms of interlinking. Such is the example of the joint

work on prioritising the connectivity agenda projects for financing, or the

initiatives to set up new, common institutions furthering the interweaving

of businesses, youth and civil societies; or the shared enthusiasm for

the prospect of the Transport Community, Regional Economic Area, and

for other institutions in the making. This initiative of the WB leaders to

champion various cooperation initiatives led the region to begin taking

over ownership of the Process.

After the London summit one thing is certain – the Berlin Process will

continue. Regional and the EU experts suggest possible ways to improve

the Process’s efficiency in the future: in view of the Process’s goals – an

increased focus on the rule of law, migrations and green topics, and at the

instrumental level – a well-designed, comprehensive monitoring to add to

the accountability of actors and better communication with the Western

Balkans’ citizens to generate public support for the reforms – the “soft

measures”.

Milestones

Brdo-Brijuni Process meeting in Dubrovnik – Chancellor Merkel announced the Summit in Berlin

August 28: The Western Balkans Summit in Berlin

August 27: The Western Balkans Summit in Vienna

August 27: The Civil Society Forum in Vienna

August 27: The Business Forum in Vienna

Agreement to set up Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) is signed

Chamber Investment Forum (CIF) established

Energy soft measures agreed upon

Roadmap for regional electricity market for the WB6 agreed upon

Declaration on Bilateral Issues signed

Agreement to set up Western Balkans Fund (WBF) signed

4 energy investment projects and 6 transport investment projects agreed upon

July 4: The Western Balkans Summit in Paris

July 4: The Civil Society Forum in Paris

July 4: The Business Forum in Paris

July 4: The Youth Forum in Paris

WB Sustainable Charter agreed upon

Young Civil Servants Pilot Scheme (YCSPS) initiated

3 transport investment projects agreed upon

Green for Growth Fund: hydropower and other renewable energy schemes for the WB agreed upon

Regional Energy Efficiency Programme (REEP) for the WB/REEP Plus agreed upon

WB Sustainable Charter agreed upon

2014

2015

2016

March 16: WB6 Prime Ministers meeting in Sarajevo – the 1st meeting of the WB PMs in a WB country

July 11: The Civil Society Forum in Trieste

July 11: The Youth Forum in Trieste

July 11: The Business Forum in Trieste

July 12: The Western Balkans Summit in Trieste

1 energy investment project 6 transport investment projects agreed upon

Western Balkan Enterprise Development and Innovation Facility (WB EDIF) launched

Green for Growth Fund: hydropower and other renewable energy schemes for the WB agreed upon

Joint Declaration Against Corruption signed

Consolidated Multi-Annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area (REA) in the WB6 presented

Establishment of Western Balkans Research Foundation (WBRF) agreed upon

CIF Secretariat inaugurated

WB Core Transport Network Soft Measures agreed upon

First meeting of coordinators for the Western Balkans Regional Economic Area

RYCO and WBF launch 1st calls for proposals

Digital Agenda agreed upon, 30 million euros allocated for broadband deployment in the WB

The Civil Society Forum of the WB contributed to preparation of the Summit and to design of its outputs

9 transport connectivity and 2 technical assistance projects agreed upon (within the EU-WB Sofia Summit)

The responsibility of the WB6 governments for the rule of law, protection of human rights and good governance and the importance of refraining from populist and nationalist rhetoric were stressed (Brdo-Brijuni Summit)

2017

2018

Facts and Figures

4 sides in the process

4 goals of the process:

4 types of Western Balkans participants:

The “WB6”

EU member states (Austria, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, United Kingdom)

EU institutions (EC, EEAS)


Resolution of outstanding bilateral and internal issues

Achieving reconciliation within and between the societies in the region

Enhancing regional economic cooperation

Laying the foundations for sustainable growth

Governments and ministries

Civil society – think tanks and activist organisations

Youth

Businesses and their associations

The participants

Reasons

5 Western Balkans Summits:

50+ preparatory and follow up meetings, bringing together

the Western Balkans actors

Berlin (2014), Vienna (2015), Paris (2016), Trieste (2017), London (2018)

Operations

3 types of outputs – economic, political and social cooperation projects

Economic cooperation projects:projects

Political cooperation projects:


4 packages of “soft” connectivity measures agreed upon:

Regional Economic Area, Chamber Investment Forum, SMEs support

via WB EDIF, WB Research Foundation

Young civil servants pilot scheme, Declaration on bilateral issues, Joint

Declarations on Regional Cooperation and Good Neighbourly Relations, on

missing persons and on war crimes, Roadmap to solution to illicit SALW, Anti-

corruption country commitments, Security commitments steering group


5 energy investment projects

2 energy efficiency and renewable energy programmes

2 technical support projects

Broadband deployment

Energy soft measures, Roadmap for regional electricity market

in WB6, WB Sustainable Charter, WB Core Transport Network

soft measures

Social cooperation projects:

Regional Youth Cooperation Office, Western Balkans Fund

Galvanised regional cooperation

Brought the region closer to the EU

Results

Achievements

Documents

The Berlin Process final